Self-locking seal.



No. 822.945. FATBNTED JUNE 12, 1906.

W. F. HARRIS. SELF LOCKING SEAL. xrrnmnxon FILED MAR. 27. 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 12,1906.

Application filed March 27,1905. Serial No. 252,166.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. HARRIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Bend, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Self-Locking Seals, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates to self-locking seals of the general class in which there is employed a flexible metal strap having upon one end catch devices and a housing for the same adapted to be entered by the other end for engaging the catch.

It consists of the features of construction set out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved seal. Fig. 2 is a section longitudinal with respect to the sealstrap and housing, showing the parts in unlocked position. Fig. 3 is a similar view, on a larger scale, showing the locked position. Fig. 4 is a section at the line 4 4 on Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of the opposite side from that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the strap extended and artly broken away for showing certain detai s. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a blank of a modified form of the invention. Fig. 8 is a section similar to Fig. 2 of said modified form. Fig. 9 is a section at the line 9 9 on Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a perspective of another modified form. Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section of the form shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section of a further modifioation. Fig. 13 is a detail inner side plan view of the end of the stra to which the housing is secured in this modified form.

The flexible strap 1 of this seal is folded upon itself at each end to form spring catchlips, (indicated, respectively, by the numeral 2 at the end at which the housing or body is mounted and by the numeral 3 at the other end.) To prevent the catch-lip from lying close on the strap at the end and to hold it open for entrance of the opposite catch-lip, a prick-punch indentation 4 is made in the stra a distance from the fold which forms the 11p a little less than the length of the lip, so that the metal struck up opposite the indentation. holds the end of the lip off from the strap. The end portion of the strap which is to be mounted in the housing is folded back upon itself in the direction to bring the lip 2 within the foldthat is, between the two portions of the strap which form the two sides of said fold, (indicated at 5)the fold being, as shown in the drawings, not made close or sharp, but rather round and open, so as to leave a definite space between the two sides between which the lip 2 stands, and the fold 5 is at a distance from the end of the lip very slightly greater than the length of the lip 3. It will be seen that with this construction, the strap being looped as in the ordinary manner for engaging a sta le or any device to be secured by the seal, t e end having the catch-lip 3 may be entered between the body of the strap and the refolded opposite end portion, passing thus between said body and the catch-lip 2 and being forced past said lip, the two catch-lips clearing each other as their ends pass and react are in position to be engaged when the strap is pulled back a little, resulting in the locked position. (Shown clearly in Fig. 3 The purpose of the housing or body 6 is to retain the parts when thus locked and make it impos sible to reach the catches for tampering with the engagement, and the detail construction of the housing is contrived with a view to cheapness and convenience in assembling the parts. In the preferred form (shown most clearly in Figs. 2, 3, and 4) this housing is made of a substantially rectangular piece of sheet metal folded so as to embrace transversely the strap with all its folds and lips, two ends of the piece thus folded being lapped one within the other, so that in crosssection the housing presents three layers of the sheet metal thus folded.

The strap is introduced sidewise between the two layers or leaves 6 and 6, formed by the end portions of the housing-blank, and is then drawn longitudinally to enter the reflexed end portion having the catch-lip 2 endwise in the barrel or throat 7 of the housing that is, the interval or space which is enwrapped between the middle portion of the housing 6 and the inner 6 of the two interlapped leavesand it is then pulled endwise in this housing until the fold 5 is stopped on the end of the inner lapped leaf 6, as clearly seen in Fig. 2. The outer lapped leaf or end portion 6 is provided with an aperture 6 and solder or wax 8, being applied and fused, flowing through this aperture enters thoroughly between the strap and the leaf 6*, and thereby secures the housing to the strap. Preferably an imprint or seal mark is formed upon the solder or wax while it is soft, occupying a sufficient portion of the area of the leaf 6 and underlying portion of the strapbody to be quickly recognizable and readable by the eye of the inspector, so that if the seal had been tampered with for detaching the housing by melting the solder or wax this fact would be instantly obvious. The seal body or housing being thus secured upon the end of the strap with one of the catches in the barrel 7, the other end having the catch 3 being introduced into the barrel under the catch2 will come into engagement with the catch 3, as already described, and the seal will be locked and the engaging elements effectively sealed and protected against any tampering which is not of a violent nature, so as to leave visible evidences of the same. In order that the inspector may readily observe whether the seal has been properly locked, there is provided an aperture 9 in the strap just back of the end of the catch-lip 3, which aperture is completely concealed when the catch is thrust home so as to look, but which will be partly disclosed to view if it has not been thus thoroughly inserted.

For purposes requiring or permitting the use of a heavier construction the seal-body may be in the form of a double-chambered barrel, such as might be made of malleable iron or of frangible material, as glass or clay. Such a form is illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11, (indicated by the reference-numeral 10,) the two barrels 10 and 10 being flatly oblong in cross-section and being each completely inclosed circumferentially, open only at the ends. The strap in the form already described will be engaged with this barrel by first inserting the end having the catch-lip 3 through the barrel 10 and drawing the entire strap through in the direction in which it is thus inserted until the refolded end having the catch 2 enters the other barrel 10 and the fold 5 is drawn up to the bridge or partition 10 between the two barrels. If the housing in this form is of metal, it will be secured permanently to the strap by running solder into the barrel 10 and suitably fusing it to effect union of the strap in this barrel with the two walls thereof. If the housing in this form is made of glass or clay or other material of such character, the strap may be secured by cementing it in the barrel 10 to the walls thereof, and with either metal, glass, or clay housing wax may be employed. Whatever the material of the housing in this form the outer wall of the barrel 10 is preferably made in skeleton, having an extended aperture 10 which is filled with the solder, wax, or cement used, and a seal imprint is made therein which will be efiaced by any attempt to melt or break the solder, wax, or cement.

It will be obvious that the housing may be made of one piece of sheet metal, though not so economically as in the manner first above described. The form of the blank for making one piece is shown in Fig. 7, the portion for the housing being formed as a sideward branch from the portion which forms the strap at a suitable distance from the end of the strap to permit the latter to be first folded upon itself to form the catch 2 and then reflexed upon itself to form the open fold 5, the sideward-jutting portion 6 being then folded to envelop the reflexed end having the catch 2, as seen in Fig. 6.

In Figs. 12 and 13 there is shown a modification to adapt the free end of the strap to be inserted into the housing at the opposite end from that from which the strap emerges instead of the same end, as in the other figures. In this modification in order to afford a stop for the inserted end of the strap to prevent it from being thrust entirely through the hous ing the tongue 11 is struck up from the strap-body and folded back, so as to be entered between the lapped end 6 of the housing and the leaf or layer on which said end is lapped in folding the housing, so as to be secured by the solder or wax 8, which fastens the housing to the strap. The aperture 9 beside affording means of disclosing at a glance whether the. seal has been properly locked makes the point at which the aperture is located the weakest point in the strap, so that any accident or intentional force applied to rupture the strap will cause it to break at this point rather than elsewhere and will leave the number or any other marks which may be imprinted or impressed upon the strap intact, these marks being placed, as shown in Figs. 5 and 10, near to the secured end of the strap adjacent to the housing at the side at which the housing has the solder, wax, or cement upon which the seal design is imprinted. This relative position of the seal imprint and the identifying-number or other mark upon the seal-strap makes it certain that the person in charge of recording the seal by its number or other identifying-mark will observe the condition of the seal imprint on the housing and discover any evidence of tampering therewith.

An advantage of the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 6, wherein the housing is in a separate piece from the strap and secured thereto by fusible or frangible means, as solder, wax, or cement, is that, especially when fusible means is employed, the housing may be disengaged and detached and the seal thereby opened without permanent injury to either the housing or the strap, but in such manner that both are left in proper condition to be rejoined at the mere expense of reapplication of the securing material and reimpressing of the seal design therein.

I claim 1. A self-locking seal comprising a securing-strap provided at its opposite ends with interlocking catches; a sheath secured to one end encompassing the catch at that end and having a longitudinal passage through which the strap is reflexed, one wall of said passage having an aperture, and a fusible substance by which the sheath is secured to the strap at the part extending through said passage, said fusible substance extending into said aperture.

2. A self-locking seal comprising a securing-strap provided with an interlocking catch at the opposite end portions; a sheath or body secured to one of the end portions encompassing the catch thereat and having a longitudinal passage, the strap being refiexed at one end of the sheath and extended through said longitudinal passage, the outer wall of said passage being apertured, and a fusible substance by which the strap is secured to the sheath in said passage, said fusible substance extending into said aperture and being exteriorly exposed thereat.

3. A self-locking seal comprising a securing-strap sharply folded upon itself at both end portions to form spring-catches, one of said end portions being folded at a second point back upon the main body of the strap at the side on which the catch stands, to cause the catch to be embraced between the two parts trending from said second fold, and a sheath or body having extended from end to end through it twopassages or paths separated by a diaphragm, the strap having the end which carries the reflexed catch inserted through one of said passages, while the main body of the strap extends through the other, the second fold of the strap being stopped at the end of the diaphragm, and means securing the strap to the sheath in the last-mentioned passage.

4. A self-locking seal comprising a sheath having a longitudinal passage a strap having a spring-catch at one end, said end being in serted in the longitudinal passage of said sheath, and the strap being reflexed outside said passage, and means securing the sheath and strap together, the opposite end of the strap having a cooperating spring catch adapted to be inserted in the sheath.

5. A self-locking seal comprising a strap having its ends reflexed to form cooperating spring-catches; a sheath secured to one end portion of the strap encompassing the springcatch and adapted to receive the other end, said sheath consisting of a piece of sheet metal folded upon itself at both ends, the ends being lapped by each other, the strap being secured betweenthe two lapped ends.

6. A self-locking seal comprising a securing-strap provided at its opposite ends with interlocking catches a sheath having two longitudinal passages in one of which the catch at one end of the strap is lodged, the strap being reflexed upon itself and extended through the other passage; a frangible substance adapted to be applied in plastic condition and to harden for securing the sheath to the strap, said substance being applied in said last-mentioned passage, one wall of said passage being apertured and said substance being extended into the aperture.

7. A self-locking seal comprising a securing-strap provided with interlocking catches at its opposite end portions a sheath or body secured to one of said end portions encompassing the catch thereat, and having in addition to said encompassing portion a longitudinal passage, the strap being reflexed at one end of the sheath and extended through said longitudinal passage, the outer wall of said passage having an aperture, and a fusible substance by which the sheath is secured to the strap at said aperture, said substance entering the aperture and having an exposed imprint.

8. A self-locking seal comprising a securing-strap provided with interlocking catches at its opposite end portions; a sheath or body secured to one of said end portions encompassing the catch thereat, and having in addition to said encompassing portion a longitudinal passage, the strap being reflexed at one end of the sheath and extended through said longitudinal passage, the outer wall of said passage having an aperture, and a frangible substance by which the sheath is secured to the strap at said aperture, said substance entering the aperture and having an exposed imprint.

9. A self-locking seal comprising a strap having its ends reflexed to form cooperating spring-catches; a sheath secured to one end portion of the strap encompassing the springcatch at that end, the strap being reflexed at one end of the sheath so as to embrace a wall of the latter and extending along the opposite side of said wall from the spring-catch, the catch at the opposite end of the strap being adapted to enter the sheath at the same side of said wall as the first-mentioned catch to engage the latter.

10. A self-locking seal comprising a sheath having a longitudinal passage a strap having a spring-catch at one end, said end being inserted in the longitudinal passage of the sheath, and the strap being reflexed about one end of one side wall of said passage and extended therealong at the opposite side thereof from the passage, and means securing the sheath and strap together, the opposite end of the strap having a cooperating springcatch adapted to be inserted in the same longitudinal passage in which the first springcatch is to lodge to engage the latter.

11. Ina self-locking seal comprising a strap having at its ends interlocking catches, a housing mounted on one end of the strap inclosing one of the catches; a fusible substance by which the housing is secured to the strap so as to be exposed on the outer surface of the device and having an exposed imprint, the

opposite end of the strap being adapted to In testimony whereof I have hereunto set have its catch engaged with the housed catch my hand, at South Bend, Indiana, this 24th 10 by folding the strap back toward the housing day of March, A. D. 1905.

upon itself at the side opposite that at which 5 said imprint is exposed, the strap having ad- WILLIAM HARRIS jacent to the housing at the secured end in- In presence of dividual identifying characters exposed for F. M. JACKSON,

reading at the same side as said imprint. TILLIE CHRISTENSEN. 

